Improvement in g-rain-binders



UNITED AS'rA'rns mln-merma `SYLVANUS D. LOUKE, OF JANESVILLE, WISCONSIN.

IMJERO'V'EMIElNT` IN GRAIN-BINDRS.

Specification forming part of .Letters Patent N o. 56,580, dated July 24, 1866.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, SYLvANUs D. LocKE, of the city of Janesville, county of Rock and State of Wisconsin, have invented a new and improved mode of constructing and operating a machine for binding grain; and I do hereby decla-re that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, makinga part of this specification, like characters referring to like parts in each figure.

The nature of my invention consists in a peculiar combination of various devices, so arranged and related to each other as that, when it is attached to a common harvester so as to receive the necessary power therefrom, or from any other source, it will receive and properly bind the grain in any sized sheaf, and after binding` will immediately discharge the same onto the ground, thus saving the labor of several individuals by a very slight outlay of power.

To enable others skilled in the arts to construct and operate my machine, I will proceed to describe it by referring to Plate l, in which Figure 1 is a top view of the machine. C,

Figs. 1 and 6, Plates l and 2, represents a disengaging coupling. D isa driving-wheel, which runs loose on the shaft when the coupling is disengaged therefrom. E, Figs. 1 and 6, Plates 1 and 2, represents a disengaging-arm with an inclined surface, which operates so as to dsengage the coupling C, bymeaus ofthe pin D.' coming in contact with the inclined surface of the disengaging-arm E as it revolves. H is a projection from the bed-piece G', forming a fulcrum for .the lever I. The operator pressing the end J of thelever I dow n'- ward with his foot, (or in case a selfrake be used, some portion of the machinery may work this lever,) operates to raise the disengagingarm E from the pin D', so as to enable the shaft-springF to throw the coupling G into connection with that part attached to the driving-wheel D. The disengaging-arm E is carried back to place on the periphery of the disengaging-coupling by means of the shaftspring G or its own weight, where, at the next revolution, it will be in position to perform again the same operation of disengaging the coupling C, as afore described. It will be seen that the coupling C is so constructed that it is engaged only when the harvesting-machine is moving forward, and cannot be engaged when the harvest-ing-machineis moving backward.. By constructing the coupling in this manner, I allow the harvester or reaper to back without affecting the process of binding or operatingA the binding-machine, and so overcome one of the chief difficulties lying in the way of the practical operation of au automatic grain-binding machine. O, Figs. 1, 5, and 6, Plates 1 and 2, is a pitman connected with the slotted crank t, and is adjusted as to distance from the center of motion by the bolt u passing through the slot in the crank t. F' is an arm, to which is attached the metallic head Y. This last-described arrangement is for throwing the bundle or sheaf from the machine, after being bound, onto the ground, and is operated by the pin D", Figs. 5 and 6, Plates 1 and 2, placed in the head of the camcylinder, which in its revolution strikes the projection m on the pitrnan o, Fig. 5, carrying it down, and thus moving the head W transversely across the binding-platform I', at the same time carrying the sheaf along with it and coiling up the shaft-sprin g E', which, after the pin D" passes off of the projection m on the pitman o, carries back the head Y .c

to the position shown in the drawings. It will be observed that the spring E' performs the important function of returning the discharging-arm F' to its original position, as shown in the drawings. A counterpoise may be used for'the same purpose, or both movements of the arm F' may be governed by a cam 5 but I prefer the spring, because by this simple means two disiderata are secured, towit, a quick return, when the bundle is discharged, of the discharging-arm to its original position, so as to allor the next unbound bundle to be brought at once into the machine, and its ready adjustment, by means of a stop, to secure its uniform return to any desired position near the butt or shorn end of the bundle. A', Fig. 1, Plate 1, is a reel, on which is placed the wire for binding. Tension is secured by turning up the nut C', thus contracting the shaft-spring B', causing greater friction on the reel A'. T and U, Figs. 1 and 4., Plate 1, and

Fig.- 6, Plate 2, are vibrating or reciprocating binding arms, operated by the cams on the cylinder B, through the media of the pitmen or arms M N, which are attached to the cam-slides K, Fig. 6, Plate 2, and shown on an enlarged scale at Figs. 7 and 8, Plate 2. These'pitmen or arms are secured to the cranks PP', made adjustable as to length by means of a slot in the crank, (in which is inserted the connecting-bolts,) or compensating device, as a recess in or a sleeve on the crank. )n the internal ends of the aforementioned arms are constructed segmental gears V W, so that when the pitman or arm N is operated upon by the cam B, the segmental gear V is turned, so that, in its combined operation with the gear W, the two binding-arms T U are brought together at their outer ends and perform the office of binding, as hereinafter described. The arm R,

Figs. 1 and 6, Plates 1 and 2, is at the proper time operated upon by the pitman or arm M, and performs its work after the binding-arms T U are brought together, at which time the friction-wheel S is brought immediately under the arm R. Its motion being downward, it carries the rack a, Figs. 1 and 2, Plate 1, and which is geared to the pinion O, Fig. 2, the latter being attached to the gear-wheel H', and this communicating motion to the twisting-pinion k and at the same time ceiling up the scroll-spring p, which spring carries back the rack 'a with all its combinations to their respective positions shown by the drawings upon the pressure from the arm 1t being removed i'rom the friction-roller S. 'lhe vibrating or reciprocating arm R may be employed to drive the rack a in both directions, and so ob viating thenecessity of the scroll-spring p. In case a tying device be used, this would be desirable; but whena slottedA pinion is employed to secure'the-ends of the bands by twisting, I prefer the scroll-spring. Fig. 3, Plate 1, is an enlarged view of the cutting- 4k-nife l, Fig. 2, Plate 1. Said knife is attached to the binding-head by a screw, which serves as a revolvingcenter. The knife is operated by the cylindrical projection 1", Fig. 2, Plate 1, coming in contact with it in its revolution, as shown by the dotted lines. Fig.4, Plate 1, is an enlarged view of the outer end of the binding-arm U, Figs. 1 and 6, Plates 1 and2. To operate the machine as contemplated herein, it is necessary to attach it to the side of a harvester, by any ordinary means, and apply power, .eitherby hand or from the harvester to the driving-pulley D, Figs. 1 and 6, Plates land 2. The wire is placed upon the reel A', Fig. l, Plate 1, and passed along the side of the binding-arms T U and under the pulleyj, Fig. 6, Plate 2,`an`d around the pulley S, Figs. 1 and 4,- Plate 1, at the extremity ofthe binding-arm U, and back to the bindinghead at the end ofthe binding-arm T, Figs. 1 and 2, Plate 1, when it is passed around an rarm of the star-pinion 1) and then introduced into andthrough the slot d into the open space e, Fig. 1, Plate 1, where it is secured by twisting a knot on the end of the wire. The knot will now perpetuate itself as the machine is operated. The grain to be bound is to be raked onto the binding-platform I', either by hand or by a self-raker. When asufiicient quantity has been there deposited, the operator places his foot upon the foot-piece J ou the end ofthe lever I, Figs. 1 and 6, Plates 1 and 2, and raises the disengaging-arm E from contact with the pin D', whereupon the shaft-spring F joins the parts of the disengaging-couplingC, Figs. 1 and 6, Plates l and 2, and the binding machinery is set in motion, as afore described. As the headsmof the binding-arms T U come together the wire draws the grain that is to form the sheaf or bundle into and againstthe circular part X, Figs. 1 and 6, Plates 1 and 2, of the binding-platform I'. The wire is pressed into its place as the heads come together by the stationary arm g and the adjustable arm h, Figs. 1, 4, and 6, Plates 1 and 2 and as a still further security as regards accuracy of position, one of the arms of the star-pinion?)` is carried down by the wire, and at the same time, by its peculiar construction, brings down another of its arms immediately over the wire, thus securing permanency of desired position at all times. T0 still further secure the operation of this starpinion, the spring-dog i', Figs. 1,4, and 6, Plates 1 and 2, strikes the arm of the star pinion b as it joinswith the binding-head, and insures the working of the pinion. This dog is so combined with the spring J, Figs. 4 and 6 Plates 1 and 2, that inits return to the position shown by the drawings it is allowed to pass on the star-pinion without moving it from its position. As soon as the binding-arms are united by the operation of the cam-cylinder B, and the friction-roller S' comes in contact with the arm lt, the cam is so adjusted that the pitman or arm M is operated upon, thus carrying down the arm R, and it pressing down the friction-roller S' -which is attached to and carries down the rack c, thus giving motion to the gear-wheel o, Fig. 2, and the gear-wheel H', whichrevolves the twistingpinion k. The wire being twisted, the projection r has now come in contact with the cutting-knife l, forcing it against the wire and severing the same. The bundle-discharging machinery now commences its operation, and performs its labor of discharging the bundle or sheaf onto the ground, as afore described, when the coupling is immediately disengaged, asV hereinbefore described and set forth, and all of the combinations and devices resume their'appropriate positions, as shown by the drawings.

It is a necessity in` all grain-binding machines that the twisting or tying device that secures the ends of the bands should, when operating, be held close to the grain-guard, so as to be as near as possible to the bundle,

while at the same time it is highly important, to prevent said device from being clogged or choked by the straw, that, when not operatin g, it may be carried back and away from the guard to a position secure from such clogging or choking.

It is also very important, in order to prevent a portion of the straw from being' left unbound by getting underneath or back of the binding-wire or cord as the bundle is gathered by the raker within or against the graingnard, and at the same time prevent the misplacement of the wire or cord, and also to allow the unbound gavel to be brought either sidewise or endwise into Vthe machine, as it may be necessary, in order to adapt the grain-binder to the harvester, thatthe wire or cord be laid horizontally across or under the binding-table, while at the same time, it is equally important that the bands should be secured either above or at the side of the bundle, in order to facilitate its discharge, and also to keep the twisting or tying-mechanism free from the cloggingl or choking as aforesaid.

All of these objects, it will be seen, are readily and fully attained by the peculiar arrangement of the binding-arms and connecting mechanism.

l am aware that in a patent granted to R. D. B rown, April 7, 1863, a shaftspring is used for a certain purpose, and I' do not claim it as there used, or substantially as there used.

I am also aware that in a patent granted to L. D. Phillips, December 29, 1857, the straw which is therein used for bands, is laid horizontally across the table, and l do not claim the arrangement as therein described, nor any arrangement substantially the same.

But what I do claim as new, and for which I desire Letters Patent of the United States,

l. A binding-machine, operated by hand or by power taken from a harvester lprovided with a cam-cylinder, B, and the cam-slides K, operating sets ot' arms, as M N R, alternately, and a sheafdischarging arm, F', combined with the disengaging-coupling G, and a selfacting disengaging arm, E, foot-lever I, binding-arms 'l U, and the friction-reel A',

when arranged and used in the manner and for the purposes herein set forth and described.

2. Disengaging couplings of grain-binding machines by means of the disengaging-arm E, when constructed with or without the shaftspring E, as set forth herein and described.

3. The cam-cylinder B, when constructed substantially as described and used to operate the working parts of a grain-binding machine, substantially in the manner as herein set forth and described.

4.-. The cam-slides K, when constructed substantially as described, with or without the friction-roll, and used to communicate motion to the working parts of a grain-binding machine, substantially as herein described.

5. The foot-lever I, or equivalent device, used to raise or remove the disengaging-arm of a grain-binding machine, so as to allow the couplings to be engaged, as herein described and set forth.

6. The combination of a back-acting disengaging coupling with a shaft spring and the disengaging arm E, t-he combination operati-ing so as to allow a backward motion to the harvester without affecting the process ot' binding or operating the parts of a bindingmachine, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination ot'a back-acting disengaging-coupling and shaft-spring with a disengaging-arm and a disengaging-lever, substantially as' set forth.

8. rEhe combination of a revolving cam-cylinder and its moving mechanism, with the vibrating-arm R, for operating a twisting or tying device, the parts being constructed and operated substantially as set forth.

9. The combination ot' a revolving cam-cylinder, with vibrating binding-arms, and a vi` brating arm operating a twisting or tying device, arranged and operated as described, whereby the binding-arms and the twisting or tying arm are worked alternately, substantially as set forth.

s. D. Locke.

Witnesses:

J. M. MAY, S. L. LORD. 

